Car trailer/storage

[Ross_328i_sport]

Looking at buying a track car and trailer however will need somewhere to store the trailer and potentially the car depending on circumstances. At the moment it is only the trailer I will need storage for.

I live near the centre of Newcastle close to the Freeman hospital so anything close would be beneficial.

Currently looking at various options including caravan parks, shipping containers and self storage. Any advice from previous experience would be greatly appreciated including rough costs.

Thanks

Ross

[marky911]

Morning,

Speaking from experience, trailers are a bloody nightmare but if you do go ahead and get one then yep you'll probably be looking at a caravan storage yard which cost about £300+ per year.

Luckily I had a generous mate with a bit of space in his yard (morning Andy )when I had mine but the whole trailer malarkey was a mare!
My trackcar was a racecar though and not road legal, hence no insurance. If I had an early start I would have it loaded up on the trailer, standing outside all night. I had it wheel clamped etc, but it was still a worry having no insurance and the best part of £8k-£10k of car and trailer sitting there.

I've sold my car and trailer now and won't go down that route again unless I go racing, which is mega-bucks.
Even loading them is hassle, then you need a towcar, with a big boot for all your gear, which is boring all the rest of the time, when you don't have the trailer on.

I'll be getting something quick and fun that I can use for work, March til September, that can handle one or two trackdays a month. I actually looked at an Elise last weekend but could I heck live with one of those!
Don't know how people do it. Was gutted as I know they're great little cars, but I just had to fall in. I'd get fed up with that in no time.

Anyway, sorry for going off on one, there are at least 2 caravan storage places in New Hartley, near Cramlington. There's one on Barrington ind. est, Bedlington but it has been broken into at least twice and that's just the times I know about. There's also Fergusons at the Port of Blyth but I think their prices are top-endy.

I'd be supprised if there weren't some heading out towards Hexham somewhere. That would be better for you.

A standard Brian James trailer won't fit in a standard shipping container though. A car will just fit in (width ways, I'm on about), so a trailer has no chance.

Good luck getting sorted though. It's nice to know you can get your car home if you bump it but that's the only single benefit, that just doesn't stack up against the other stuff, well for me. You have to be driving like a right lunatic to smash your car up on a trackday too. There's pressing on and there's being stupid!
Even if you do cock a bend up, there's generally enough run-off to not hit anything. Obviously engine blow-ups are a different matter.

[Ross_328i_sport]

Thanks Mark for the information. Looking at racing next year therefore ideally need a trailer but I totally agree with you on the fact they are a complete nightmare loading/ unloading and then storing.

You also touched on the question I am asking myself which tow car can be fun when not towing but comfortable for long journeys. This is difficult question too.

Will carry on with the research and speak to those you have mentioned.

Thanks

Ross

[Tuffty]

I store my car trailer in The Port of Blyth caravan storage, and use my trailer for taking my car to track days. They are a bit of a chew on using a trailer and won't dare leave it unattended without being locked up but like already mentioned having to leave it outside my house overnight prior to a trackday is a mare and takes up loads of room. The price of the storage at Blyth is £250 a year, there are cheaper ones around, there's one on the back road between Backworth and Earsdon but security seems non exsistent and i think a caravan went missing from there not long ago but they want £150 a year

[Ross_328i_sport]

Tuffty,

Do they (Port of Blyth Caravan storage) have 24 hour security and what are the access times for taking the trailer etc. I assume they are open on both weekdays and weekends?

Thanks

Ross

[salmon]

Currently looking for storage for a caravan at the moment and cheapest I've found so far is the dinnington fencing company's place in wideopen at £270.

[Tuffty]

Port of Blyth are open 24hours a day, 7 days a week, Keys are supplied from the security guard for the Haulage entrance so they are there 24/7, been in at 2am after returning from Anglesey not a problem, I'll dig the number out if interested for you?

[Ross_328i_sport]

Thanks Tuffty i have managed to find the number and spoken to them. Thanks all for the help.

[JeffC]

marky911 said:

A standard Brian James trailer won't fit in a standard shipping container though. A car will just fit in (width ways, I'm on about), so a trailer has no chance.

well I plan to leave my race car and trailer in a standard shipping container which is 20ft long x 8ft wide, a larger brian james trailers is 6ft bed width giving an overall width of 7ft 3", they go as small as 5ft 5" bed width ideal for a smaller car, will they fit in a container ? you do the maths

[andy rob]

JeffC said:

marky911 said:

A standard Brian James trailer won't fit in a standard shipping container though. A car will just fit in (width ways, I'm on about), so a trailer has no chance.

well I plan to leave my race car and trailer in a standard shipping container which is 20ft long x 8ft wide, a larger brian james trailers is 6ft bed width giving an overall width of 7ft 3", they go as small as 5ft 5" bed width ideal for a smaller car, will they fit in a container ? you do the maths

Already tried this one !
It a complete bh to get a loaded car trailer into a container, if you can get the container doors both open 180 degrees, this gives you 7ft 6" max internal width, if the doors only open 90 degrees you get much less
Yes 'doing the mathes' it will fit on paper but in reality its a right fk on
I have several containers up for rent & lots of outdoor space available but wouldn't recomend trying to keep a decent sized car trailer in a container

[peteA]

friend of mine keeps his car on his trailer in his garage....another thought / option?

[Marty63]

I noticed another storage yard opened up on the back road between
Earsdon and backworth, opposite the old pit buildings

[JeffC]

i was looking at some containers my pal has in his yard other day and his doors open to give you pretty much the full width i would say an opening of around 7ft 10" , trailer i will be getting is 5ft 5 bed width so should fly in, will let you know what its like once i try it for size

andy rob said:

JeffC said:

marky911 said:

A standard Brian James trailer won't fit in a standard shipping container though. A car will just fit in (width ways, I'm on about), so a trailer has no chance.

well I plan to leave my race car and trailer in a standard shipping container which is 20ft long x 8ft wide, a larger brian james trailers is 6ft bed width giving an overall width of 7ft 3", they go as small as 5ft 5" bed width ideal for a smaller car, will they fit in a container ? you do the maths

Already tried this one !
It a complete bh to get a loaded car trailer into a container, if you can get the container doors both open 180 degrees, this gives you 7ft 6" max internal width, if the doors only open 90 degrees you get much less
Yes 'doing the mathes' it will fit on paper but in reality its a right fk on
I have several containers up for rent & lots of outdoor space available but wouldn't recomend trying to keep a decent sized car trailer in a container

[marky911]

^^^^^^
Sounds like you'll be alright then.
OP didn't state what size of trailer but I presumed a pretty standard bj trailer, ie big enough for a saloon car.

You can get the small ones that you mention and they're ok if you know you're only ever going to want to use a westfield or something.
It's better to buy a bigger one to cover your options, that way you only buy a one once.

Plus you know your mates will always be wanting to borrow it for other cars.